It was a proud moment for the state as two girl students won outstanding project awards at the National Children's Science Congress (NCSC) that concluded at Baramati in Maharashtra on Saturday.

Nayana Reji, a plus one student at the SMV Higher Secondary School (HSS) at Poonjar in Kottayam won the award for the project titled `Influence of moon phases on cultivation and harvesting' and Malavika C S, plus one student from DVM NNM HSS at Maranalloor in Thiruvananthapuram won the award for her project on `Energy conservation in tea shops for sustainable development: A study in Maranalloor panchayat'.

Kerala state council for science, technology and environment (KSCSTE) is the state nodal agency for NCSC, a five-day event that began on 27 December. Altogether 16 students, representing various schools in Kerala, participated in the Congress, said KSCSTE member secretary and director S Pradeep Kumar.

The project on moon effect on plants by Nayana Reji was chosen as one among the 15 best projects and the one on energy conservation in tea shops by Malavika C S was adjudged best among 30 selected projects.